To turn off dictation on iPhone, open Settings > General > Keyboard and switch off Enable Dictation. This is the official, Apple-documented control for the feature Apple calls Dictation, which is what most people mean by "talk to text."
Turning off Dictation in Keyboard settings
Apple’s support documentation confirms that dictation is disabled by switching off Enable Dictation in Settings > General > Keyboard. There is no separate "Talk to Text" setting on iPhone; the documented feature name is Dictation. Note that disabling Voice Control under Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control is a different feature from Dictation and Siri.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Keyboard.
- Turn off Enable Dictation.
Once this is off, the microphone key on the keyboard will no longer convert your speech into text. This is the direct answer if you want to stop your iPhone from automatically transcribing what you say while typing.
Disabling Siri's voice recognition feature
If the problem is Siri responding to your voice rather than the keyboard microphone, you can control that separately. Apple documents turning off Siri voice activation in Settings > Siri & Search by disabling Listen for "Hey Siri" and Press Side Button for Siri. On iPhone models with a Home button, the option is labeled Press Home for Siri instead. These settings control the voice assistant, not the dictation microphone in the keyboard, so turning off Siri will not disable Dictation on its own. If you are troubleshooting a broader voice input problem, these voice assistant and microphone fixes are the documented places to start.
Using Airplane Mode temporarily
The only documented control for turning off talk to text is the Enable Dictation switch in Settings > General > Keyboard. While Airplane Mode will cut network connections, it does not stop the keyboard microphone from transcribing speech locally, so it should not be treated as a fix.
Android
Android does not have a single universal "talk to text" off switch. Google’s documentation covers voice typing and advanced voice typing features in Gboard, and Samsung documents its own path for Samsung Keyboard voice input under Settings > General management > Keyboard list and default > Default keyboard > Samsung Keyboard > Voice input > Samsung voice input. If you are on an Android device, the correct setting depends on your keyboard app and manufacturer, not on a shared iPhone-style toggle.
Supported devices and versions
Apple’s documentation for disabling Dictation applies to iPhone and does not list a device-exclusion table. Samsung’s instructions apply to Galaxy phones and tablets using Samsung Keyboard plus Samsung voice input.
Documented limits
Apple’s page does not list a limit for dictation length or usage. Google’s Gboard documentation notes that to turn the microphone off, you tap the keyboard mic, close the keyboard, or say "Stop." Samsung’s page only gives the settings path for enabling Samsung voice input and does not state a usage limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this be turned off from the keyboard?
Yes. Apple documents the switch in Settings > General > Keyboard > Enable Dictation. There is no separate keyboard-level toggle beyond that setting.
Does turning off Dictation also disable Siri?
No. Siri voice activation is controlled separately in Settings > Siri & Search. Disabling Dictation only stops speech-to-text in the keyboard.
Will turning off talk to text affect other voice control features on my iPhone?
Other voice control features like Siri remain unaffected.
Can I turn off talk to text for specific applications only?
It is not possible; the feature is system-wide.
Are there any alternative methods for composing text messages without talk to text?
Use the on-screen keyboard or voice dictation via Siri by pressing and holding the microphone icon.
Can I re-enable talk to text after turning it off?
Yes, you can by toggling Voice Control back on.
Is Airplane Mode a permanent fix?
No. No Apple support page documents Airplane Mode as a way to disable Dictation, and it is not the documented control. Use Enable Dictation instead.
What if I want to fix your voice assistant instead of the keyboard?
If Siri is the issue, go to Settings > Siri & Search and turn off Listen for "Hey Siri" and Press Side Button for Siri (or Press Home for Siri on Home button models). This addresses voice activation without touching keyboard dictation.
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